Daniel mint horn



MINTHOR'N. BRAOE FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

PatentedJune S, 1855.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL MINTI-IORN, OF NEW YORK,

BRACE FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,011, dated June 5, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL MINTHORN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Dress Physiologique; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to letters of reference marked thereon.

Desom'ption.-First, the noose suspender or shirred shoulder brace consists ina single strap of webbing (A) the middle of which is placed across the back at the lower edge of the shoulder blades and extending forward under both arms and passing under the arm pits turn back over the front of the shoulders and passing downward cross each other on the shoulder blades, and rolling around the body crosses itself between the spine (or place of beginning) and the arm pits passing forward down the sides and sides of the bowels to the 0s pubes at (H) and are attached together by a leathern buttonhole and two small buttons.

The holding loops (B) consist in small straps of webbing or tape stitched to the webbing (A) on the under side, a little above the upper crossing at the shoulder blades and looping under its opposite crossing strap (A) is stitched again to its main webbing in three places making two loops each on the under side where the main webbing (A) crosses itself. The object of the upper loops is to confine the suspenders so as not to separate when taken off, and at the same time leave play or room for the suspender noose to adapt itself to the body or to different forms, those loops (B) crossing each other the same as the suspender webbing (A). The two other loops are intended to hold the webbing (A) at their crossing between the shoulder blades and arm pits as well as to keep the noose together.

The loops (C) that attach the skirts to the suspender brace are five in number the first is fastened to (J) at the center of the back a little above the smallest part of the waist, two others are fastened to (A) at the sides over the femoral joint and the other two are fastened to (A) at the side of the bowels near the 0s illium at a point where the top of the skirts intersects the webbing (A) in passing down to the 0s pubes at The fastenings of the loops (C) is the ordinary button or a small buckle, Another use of the loop (C) may be to contain cords (G) and serve as a fulcrum to raise the skirts.

The short corset (D) consists in a band made of muslin, jean or woven for that express purpose extending in front from shoulder to shoulder, the lower edge being straight or curving in order to adapt itself best to the form on the breast below the mamma and the upper edge is opened by gores or widened by gores if made of jean or by a flexible selvage if woven so as to adapt itself to the swell of the bosom, both ends of said corset band being fastened to the shoulder brace strap (A) from a point under the arm to a point nearly in front of the upper part of the shoulder. The object or use of the corset band (D) is first to raise and adjust the mamma without the use of whale bones, leaving the short ribs and abdominal viscera free from the restraint and pressure as at present exists with the use of long whale bones. Another object is that it divides the weight or pressure on the front part of the shoulders with the pressure on the breast, it can be so adjusted as to alternate bet-ween the breast and shoulder, for if the corset band is tight there is no pressure 011 the front part of the shoulders and vice versa. It may also serve as a foundation to fasten artificial mamma to.

The object of the loop straps (F) is to extend from the 0s pubes at (H) to the top of the stocking in order to hold up the stock ing without elastics in case of cold feet or a predisposition to varicose veins. The loop straps (F) are fastened to (A) at (H) by slipping the loops onto (H) when buttoned to (A) and extending from down to above each knee it branches into two by having it fastened to the middle of an elastic strap, and at the end of each branch is a small button to be attached to a loop on the front and back of the top of the stocking or the entire strap can be elastic in order to keep the stocking from lowering when the person sits down. Another use of the straps (F) is to pull the straps 620. down at and by means of the attachments from the bodice of the dress to said strap A at I, I, I, to keep it from working up or rising. The fastening from the dress bodice is attached to the two forward loops (C) and at The leather button hole (H) serves to unite both ends of the strap (A) and connected with (F) and is the most simple way of detaching or undressing.

The uses and arrangements of the cords (G) are to pass out of a ladys dress pocket through an eyelet or button hole and passing through the loops (C) extend down the skirts to near the knee where the ends of the cords or tapes are fastened to the skirts and skirts of the dress by means of safety pins. The two cords extending down in front to each knee unite in one to a tablet in the ladys pocketso also a single cord passes out of the pocket through the loop (C) on the back, that if she wishes to raise the front or back of her skirts she can do so for instance going up stairs can raise the front, or going down raise the back or by pulling both tablets raise them at once both back and front when walking the streets through dust, mud or snow.

The letter (I) indicates the three points at (C) on (A) where the bodice of the dress is to be attached to The strap (J) is attached to (A) near the loops (C) over the femoral joint and is at right angles to it; its half turn serves to lengthen (A) so as to establish the loop (C) at its proper place of adaptation.

(K) represents the straps attaching the short corset D to (L) represent-s the safety pin as attached to the skirts and the vacant loop in the cord is to be attached to the facing of the ladys dress.

The noose suspender for gentlemen consists in the same arrangements of the strap (A) and the loops (B) ending near (C) over the hips where a buckle with suspender ends receives the straps (A) and attaches it to the waist band over the hips.

The advantages of this over other suspenders and shoulder braces are first the perfect adaptation to the body, by the noose shirring to any form and rolling around the body having no seams nor large buckles to chafe; secondly it brings the entire weight of the skirts on the shoulders and at the same time relieves the cutting pressure in front of the shoulder and under the arms by the use of the short corset (D) which can be so adjusted by tightening as to bring most of the weight of the skirts to bear up under the bosom having more tendency to keep a lady straight than if all the pressure was on the shoulders; thirdly, the short corset not extending down to the short ribs it leaves the organs of respiration free to act and by the skirts being placed on loosely leaves the bowels free to cooperate in their motion at every breath, and by attaching the bodice of the dress gives ease and freedom that cannot exist by the use of whale bones. Another advantage is where the skirts open in front (as they always should) by detaching the short corset and unbuttoning at (H) av lady can step out of all her skirts at once and step into them as readily without fixing each one on separately as is generally practiced. It also improves the form of short ladies by apparently lengthening their waists in removing their skirts from between the hips and sides out at a point of the os illium brings their dresses nearer them and they appear more graceful; lastly the simple and effectual method of raising the skirts at pleasure is of great utility, involving convenience, cleanliness, modesty, and economy and finally the dress physiologique as a whole is symmetrical physiological novel and I believe will be found useful.

Reference to the drawnga-The Figure 1 represents the ladys chemise; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the skirt further represented by dotted lines; Fig. 3 represents the stockings.

The dotted lines at (B) on (A) repre- Sclilt. the holding loops (B) on the under sic e.

I do not claim to have invented shoulder braces or suspenders for they have long been known and used, but

What I do claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is- 1. .I claim substantially as above described the arrangementsof straps forming a suspender for the use of ladies or gentlemen, by which the hips are relieved of the weight of the lower garments, which are sustained by the shoulder straps, at the same time leaving the regions of the lower ribs and vicera perfectly free in their action.

2. I claim also, in combination With the above suspender, the short corset by which the weight of the skirts is employed to raise and adjust the breasts, and by tightening or loosening which, the said weight is more or less transferred from the shoulders to the breasts.

3. I also claim the straps (F) attached DANIEL MINTHOR-N.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. EAGEN, Lo Is H. Snrrz, 

